Abstract

This study examines the determinant of Entrepreneurial Behaviour (EB) on farm performance among small-scale rice farmers in Niono zone, Mali. The data of the study were collected from 236 randomly selected farmers who had less than 5 hectares, through a semi-structured questionnaire. Sale, profitability and post-harvest losses (PHLs) were used as farm performance indicators. The data analysis was carried out using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on selected EB, and multivariate Tobit model to examine determinant of EB farm performance. The diagnostic test indicated the absence of collinearity issues while post-estimation test of CFA indicated good fitness of the model and reliability and validity of data. The results of the research show that EB of as initiation and innovativeness, household head’s years of schooling and the amount credit in the counter-season improved farm performance by reducing PHLs. Land size , farm assets values and access to model farms improved farm performance by increasing both sales and profitability. The study concluded EB improved farm performance, and its determinant is enforced by other socio-economic and institutional factors of small-scale farmers. The study recommended enhancing more EB as well as establishing better business environment to incentivize farming business towards commercial-oriented farming. This can be done through more training, access to land, improving farmers’ investment ability and sharing of information, techniques and technologies among farmers.